Carlos Alcaraz has five-word message for critics who doubted him after Monte-Carlo success
Carlos Alcaraz won the Monte-Carlo Masters last week to silence his doubters, and the world No. 2 has a five-word message for those who have criticised him
Carlos Alcaraz proved his mettle at the Monte-Carlo Masters last week, clinching his 18th career title after a spell of underwhelming performances. The world No.2 bounced back from an early exit in Miami to triumph on the clay courts.
The young tennis star acknowledged the "difficult" month he had prior to Monte-Carlo, conceding that he felt the weight of external expectations. However, Alcaraz has adopted a fresh outlook and succinctly addressed his critics with a pointed remark: "talking is easy and free".
Without skipping a beat, Alcaraz is already gearing up for the Barcelona Open, set to compete just two days following his Monaco victory.
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Riding high on his first clay-court win of the season, Alcaraz is learning to shrug off the pressure that overwhelmed him during the recent hard-court tournaments.
With his competitor Jannik Sinner out on a three-month suspension, Alcaraz faced suggestions to narrow the gap for the top ranking, which he admits "killed [him] in some way".
Now tuning out the chatter, Alcaraz humorously responded to what critics expect of him as he prepares for the Barcelona Open: "I guess it's winning every game 2-0, never losing," he said with a chuckle.
"I don't know, there's a lot of demands, although I recognise that there have been some results that for some people... even for myself, haven't been what they expected.
"We're four months into the year now, and I've learned a lot about giving importance to what's important. There are certain defeats that for many have felt like too little.
"But for me, there's no such thing as too little anymore, they're all learning experiences, so it's time to move forward. Talking is easy and free, especially when someone has certain expectations and doesn't meet them, that's all I can say."
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Alcaraz never expected to clinch the trophy in Monte Carlo but he's now keen to carry his momentum into Barcelona, where he is on a 10-match winning streak after lifting the title in 2022 and 2023. He was forced to pull out with an arm injury last year.
"I can say that I gained a lot of confidence in Monte Carlo, I didn't expect to win," he added. "I just want to get into the rhythm, the matches, and the hours on clay. Winning the title gives you confidence for what's to come.
"I'm very happy to come here, with the Monte Carlo title, with confidence and feeling very good physically. I'm ready to compete, feel the love of my people, play in Barcelona, in Spain. It will be an incredible feeling."
